Side wrist watch



Jan. 16, 1940. B. s. KATZ SIDE WRIST WATCH Filed July 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l //VVN o)? 5.5mm MIN 5. KA T2 .9 By r/ A T TUBA [Y5 Jan. 16, 1940. B. sfKATz 2,187,205

SIDE WRIST WATCH Filed July 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll f- 1;

Patented Jan. 16, 194-0 PATENT OFFICE SIDE WRIST WATCH Benjamin S.'Katz, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Gruen Watch Company, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application July 24, 1937, Serial N0. 155,473

11 Claims.

My invention relates to watches and in'particular to wrist watches.

It is my object to provide a wrist watch that will be carried on the side of the wrist and which 5 Will remain on the side of the wrist.

It is a further object to provide a wrist watch in which the dial is so disposed vertically that the watch is easily read because of the position of the dial with respect to the Watch case.

It is an object of my invention toprovide a case for a watch of such curvature and with such arrangement of the ends of the case that they will embrace the side of the wrist and conform to the side of the wrist, in which event the curvature is greater than the top or back of the'wrist so that the watch will remain in position, on th side only of the wrist.

It is a further object of my invention to provide the strap and buckle for the strap on the back of the wrist While the watch is carried on the side of the wrist.

It will be observed that the advantages of a watch on the side of the wrist which will stay there are numerous. In such a position the watch is protected from injury to the maximum. It is easily read and is in the most-convenient place for observation. It is more easily wound. It is prevented from shifting around the wrist because the construction, which fits snugly against the side of the wrist, prevents this rotating movement which is now common with Wrist watches.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel construction for the attachment of the strap to the watch. By this construction the space between the lugs above the strap is covered with a metal apron, leaving the space between the bottom edges of the lug open. The strap is attached to a pivoted member, which, when it is swung out from the back, permits the separation ofthe back and bezel of the Watch case but which, when it is swung in and snapped down in its normal position, places the strap attachment in a position behind the edge of the back to prevent the removal of the back from the bezel while in this position. This construction has the further advantage that at the same time it forms a metal cover on the underside of the strap so as to give the appearance that the strap is actually coming out of the watch case. This protects the end of the strap against abrasion-which is characteris tic of watches where the end of the strap is exposed.

It has the further advantage of anchoring the strap substantially on the major axis of the case so that the strains are distributed equally and uniformly. The swinging cover for the support of the end of the strap is fiush with the back of the case so that a smooth surface is presented to the wrist.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a view of a portion of the top, or outer, surface of a wrist with the watch of this invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a view of the lower or inner surface of the wrist, shown in-Figure l, with the watch of this invention attached thereto.

Figure 3 is a side elevation which is in effect a front elevation of the watch.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the back of the case with the strap cover closed.

Figure 6 is a similar view with the strap cover open.

Figure '7 is a section on the line 'l-T of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a section partly broken away and taken on the plane designated 9-9 in Figure5.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a false end member adapted for attachment to a modified form of watch case;

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a section taken on the line l2-l2 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the modified form of watch case having a. false end member, as shownin Figure 10, attached to one end thereof;

Figure 14 is a view, in side elevation, of the structure shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the structure shown in Figures 13 and 14, with the section taken substantially on the line l5---l5 in Figure'13;

Figure 16 is a view, in perspective, of the modified watch; and

Figure 17 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 13, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows l'L-l'l in Figure 14.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I is a wrist of a wearer of a wrist watch. The watch is mounted upon the wrist by the straps 2 and3 which are connected together by the buckle 4. The ends of these straps are mounted upon and within a portion of the watch case in the manner hereinafter described so that the ends of the 55 The watch case consists of a front or bezel portion 5 of any desired design having the dial disposed longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the case so that when the watch is on the side of the wrist, the major dimension of the dialis vertical as at 5. This places the winding stem? in a convenient position for Winding by-the right hand when the watch is mounted upon the left wrist. tended from either end of the dial as at 8 to form a covering enclosure between the projecting lugs 3 which are extensions of the side walls ID of the bezel. This forms a covered space between the lugs and beneath the case extension 8 is located the following mechanism for retaining the strap on the watch.

It will be understood that H designates the back of the case, which is overlapped and held in position by the pivoted cover, l2 which, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, is pivoted at E3 on the lugs 5i and is mounted between those lugs (Figs. 5 and 5). This cover is cut away at !3a to permit the entry of the strap 2 or 3 through the space between the cover i2 and the case extension 8 so that the strap appears to come directly out of the watch. 1 The end of the strap is looped as at M over a cross tube 15 carried between the ears it of the cover '12. This tube is anchored in the side walls it of the cover l2 by the pins 51, which are pressed out resiliently through the side walls 58 by the spring it within the tube iii pressing against the enlarged heads .'a of the pin ll. These pins have rounded ends ill; that are insertable within the depressions i9 withinthe sides of the lugs 9 so that when the cover i2 is closed, these pins will snap into the depressions l9 and hold the cover in position, but when this occurs, the edge 22 of the cover l2 overlaps the back H and holds it in position. i Y

The turned-over ends of the straps are held together by stitching or brads 2|.

-The watch itself is so curved through the positioningand shape of the lugs 9 that the arc of curvature is sharper than the normal curvature of the top or bottom of the wrist. I By having a watch. curved'to "lit the side of the wrist and of such curvature that it would not'fit the top and bottom of the wrist, the watch will stay on the side of the wrist.

By utilizing the extended lugs to bring about thismarked curvature and to engage the top and bottom of. the side of thewrist, the curvature of the case,jwhich encloses and supports the movement, need not be as greatas it would ordinarily be, toeiiect thisobject with the resulting advantages as'to the location and positioning of the movement. The case itself where the .movement is contained need not, necessarily, be curved, although that is desirable. It is essential to have extensions of the case to embrace the top and bottom portions of the side of the wrist .to. prevent rotating and vertical movement of the Watch.

Figures 10 to 17 inclusive illustrate the application of the principles of this invention to a modified formof watch, wherein the case designated 22has rigidly attached thereto, at each end, by soldering or in any other suitable manner, afalse end member 23. The watch case 22 comprises a bezel portion 25 of suitable design having thecrystal 24 secured therein with the dial (not shown) disposed therebeneath and there- This bezel portion 5 is exto the lower or rear edge 36 thereof.

within. The winding crown or stem is designated 21. The back of the case is designated 26 and is removable from the other portions of the case in conventional manner.

Each false end member 23 has an outer arcuate wall 28 and an inner arcuate wall 29 and inclined side walls 38 joining the walls 28 and 29. The outer wall 28 has an upper edge 3|, while the upper edge of the inner wall 29 is designated 32. The side walls 30 have substantially horizontal or transverse upper edges 33 joining the edge 3|, and edges 34 disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to the edges 33 and joining the edges 33 with the upper edge 32 of the inner wall 29.

rigidly secured to each of the walls 30 is a strap supporting. pin 35.

It is, of course, to be understood that, as an alternative construction, the side walls 30 may be provided with depressions such as 19 (Fig. 9) for accommodation of the strap supporting means illustrated in that figure, which are, of course, readily adaptable to the construction illustrated in Figures 10 to 17 inclusive.

The lower or rear edge of the wall 28 is designated 36, while the corresponding edge of the wa1l29 is designated 31. The lower'or rear edge of eachside wall 30 is designated '38. The upper edges 3|, 32, 33 and 34 are adapted for close abutting engagement with corresponding surfaces at the ends of the watch case 22 and are rigidlysecured thereto, preferably by means of solder (not shown) which is not perceptible in the finished and conformation of the false end members 23 are susceptible ofconsiderable variation for accommodating a single case construction, such as the illustrated case 22, to various shapes and sizes of wrists and to form side wrist watches of widely divergent appearances. The side walls 30 of the false end members 23 and the adjacent side walls of the case 22 are provided adjacent their rear or lower edge with a continuous ornamental while the outer surface 28 of each false end member 23 is provided with concave arcuate grooves 280:. extending from the forward or top edge 3| course, to be understood that any other suitable form of ornamentation may be provided, as is desired.

The disposition of the watch strap supporting pins-35, or the alternative form of watch strap supporting means, between the side walls 30 and the walls 28 and 29 permits of the achievement of a more finished appearance in the watch than would be possible where the means for securing the strap ends to the fabricated watch casewere exposed instead of hidden by the walls 28, 29 and 30, in the construction illustrated.

. I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters It is, of

groove, as shown in Figures 10, 13, 14 and 16,

having an arouate bezel portion with a longitudinally-disposed dial opening, arcuate end portions of the bezel of greater curvature than the curvature of the main portion of the bezel, curved lug portions of greater curvature than the curvature of the main portion of the bezel, straps, means for anchoring the ends of the straps within said lug portions and beneath the end portions of the bezel, and a swinging cover mounted on said lug portions adapted to support and conceal the ends of said straps within the bezel end portions.

2. In combination, in a watch case, of a case having an arcuate bezel portion with a longitudinally-disposed dial opening, arcuate end portions of. the bezel of greater curvature than the curvature of the main portion of the bezel, curved lug portions of greater curvature than the curvature of the main portion of the bezel, straps, means for anchoring the ends of the straps between said lug portions and'beneath the arcuate end portions of the bezel, a swinging cover mounted on said lug portions adapted to support and conceal the ends of said straps beneath the arcuate end portions, and a back for said bezel adapted to be overlapped and held in position by said swinging cover when in its closed posiposition, and a back for said bezel adapted to lie beneath and be engaged by said cover when it is closed.

4. In combination, in a wrist watch, of a bezel having extended front faces bridging side lugs, side lugs, and a cover pivoted between the ends of said side lugs adapted to close the back of the space formed therebetween, said cover, lugs and extended front faces of the bezel forming an opening through which a strap is extended into the space therebetween.

5. In combination, in a wrist watch, of a bezel having extended front faces bridging side lugs, side lugs, a cover pivoted between the ends of said side lugs adapted to close the back of the space formed therebetween, said cover lugs and extended front faces of the bezel forming an opening through which a strap is extended into the space therebetween, andmeans for supporting an end of said strap within and beneath said cover whereby it is concealed.

6. In combination, in a wrist watch, of a bezel having extended front faces bridging side lugs, side lugs, a cover pivoted, between the ends of said side lugs adaptedto close the back of the space formed therebetween, said cover lugs and extended front faces of the bezelforming an opening through which a strap is extended into the space therebetween, means for supporting an end of said strap within and beneath said cover whereby it is concealed, and yielding means for detachably attaching the cover to said lugs when the cover is in closed position.

I '7. In combination, in a wrist watch, of a bezel having extended front faces bridging side lugs, side lugs, a cover pivoted between the ends of said side lugs adapted to close the back of the space formed therebetween, said cover lugs and extended front faces of the bezel forming an opening through which a strap is extended into the space therebetween, means for supporting an end of said strap within and beneath said cover whereby it is concealed, yielding means for detachably attaching the cover to said lugs when the cover is in closed position, said means comprising a tubular support for said strap, yielding means therein, and pins extending from either end of said tubular means impelled outwardly by said yielding means and adapted to engage in depressions on the insides of said lugs.

8. In combination, a curved side wrist watch case having a central movement supporting portion and at each end of said central portion a hollow strap concealing portion open at its outer end, and pin means in, each strap concealing portion adapted to support the end of a strap in a concealed position and to permit the strap to extend outwardly from the open outer end of the strap concealing portion.

9. A new article of manufacture for use as a watch case comprising a bezel and back portion, arcuate lug portions with a cover spanning said lug portions, and a pivoted cover likewise spanning said lug portions to form an enclosure therewith.

10. A new article of manufacture for use as a watch case comprising a bezel and back portion, arcuate lug portions with a cover-spanning said lug portions, a pivoted cover likewise spanning said lug portions to form an enclosure therewith, and means for supporting an end of a strap within the space so enclosed by said covers and lug portions.

11. In combination, a side wrist watch casing having wrist-facing areas of approximately cylindrical curvatures and comprising a central movement-supporting portion and at each end of said central portion a rigidly attached connection portion for a wrist-encircling member, the wristfacing areas of said connection portions being inclined inwardly relatively to the wrist-facing area of said central portion to extend past the edges of the wrist between the narrow and broad sides of the wrist, each connection portion of said casing having an outer wall and an inner wall, the separation of said walls adjacent said central portion being substantially greater than the separation thereof at the end of said connection portion remote from said central portion, whereby to fit substantially the entire wrist-facing surface of said casing to the configuration of the wrist while retaining said central portion in engagement with the narrow side of the wrist.

BENJ. S. KA'IZ. 

